For Toni, reliable transportation always felt just out of reach. Like so many single moms, she was used to making things work the best she could—putting off expensive repairs, cobbling together solutions, and pushing forward for her kids. But a chance encounter on Facebook Marketplace would turn out to be a life-changing moment.
Toni was selling her daughter’s headboard when the woman who came to pick it up noticed her car troubles. They got to talking, and the buyer shared her own experience receiving vehicle repairs through Hands of The Carpenter. That conversation—and a little faith—set Toni on a new path.
“I was having car trouble and was looking for mechanics that had a low diagnostic rate or shop financing,” Toni said. “I stumbled across Hands. I honestly didn’t know there was an organization that specifically helped single mothers. From the first phone call, it felt like I may actually have a way out of having unreliable transportation.”
Toni came to Hands for vehicle repair, but after a diagnostic review, it became clear her car wasn’t safe to keep on the road. She handled the news with grace and chose to move forward with the vehicle placement program. “Hands even gave me referrals to sell my vehicle so I could put that money toward a new one,” she said. “I was literally guided from start to finish in the most caring and efficient way.”
As a mom of two—her son, now 24, lives in Denver and works as a tailor, and her 17-year-old daughter is a high school senior and part of a Mariachi group—Toni’s life is full of activity. But until recently, it was also full of stress and uncertainty.
“There were many times we were on our way to a school event, a family dinner, or just trying to go shopping, and our car would just stop. It would derail our plans and our day,” she shared. “We knew that everywhere we went was a gamble on whether we would make it there and home again.”
Transportation challenges didn’t just affect family life—they stretched into Toni’s workday too. After leaving a 20-year career in higher education, she now works in administration for Stantec Consulting, an environmental research firm. But getting to her office was a daily obstacle course.
“My workday was extended by nearly two hours on both ends. I walked half a mile to a bus stop, transferred to a regional bus, walked another half mile to the train, and then walked again to my office,” she said. “I missed a lot of evening time with my kids because of it. I regret not being able to provide reliable transportation to myself, but I’m forever thankful to Hands for making our lifestyle easier now.”
Thanks to Hands, Toni now drives a dependable Honda CR-V. She started her journey at the East location in Aurora and picked up her new vehicle at the West location in Golden—where the team greeted her and her daughter like family.
“Everyone was so kind,” Toni recalled. “The mechanics even came out to say hello. Everyone talked with us, reassured us, and reminded us that their involvement with Hands is a choice. There was no judgment—just encouragement and kindness.”
Toni’s advice for other single moms comes from a place of wisdom and compassion:
“We do our best. We always do our best. There will always be mom guilt—and that’s OK. And when you’re doing your best, it’s also OK to ask for help. (I’m still and will always be learning this too.)”
